Car construction



June 2, 1936. w. J. HoscElT CAR CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 30, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 III Ill/lll.

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June 2, 1936. w. J. HoscElT 2,042,528

CAR CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 30, 1955 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 2, 1936 UNITED STATES CAR CONSTRUCTION William J.. Hosceit, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Rodger Ballast Car Company, Chicago, Ill., a

corporation of Maine Application September 30, 1933, Serial No. 691,606

15 Claims.

This invention relates to new and improved closure means and a latching device therefor, characterized as especially adapted for use on hoppers and particularly, as here illustrated, on

hoppers of railway cars.

It is an object of this invention to provide a door or closure, a frame therefor, cooperating latching mechanism on the door and frame respectively, and a hinge device for the door or closure of such character that the closurecan be brought to closed position and thereafter caused to move bodily with respect to the frame to effect a tight and secure latching of the door by cooperation of the parts of the latching mechamsm.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a latching and holding means for doors or similar closures of the type particularly adapted for use on hoppers of railway cars which in operation, assures that the closure is at all times, positively held in closing contact with the frame; is simple in construction; eflicient in operation, and can be manufactured, installed and maintained with a minimum of expense and trouble.

A further object is to provide a latching means for doors of the above described type which is not subject to the liability of becoming accidentally disengaged in service, and which can be effectively manipulated by a simple operation to A further object of this invention is to provide a closure for railway dump cars which is leak- Vproof and which will close more tightly than doors heretofore employed whereby to provide a car which may serve well for transporting powdered and nely divided materials, such as coal, sand, cement, and similar materials.

A further object is to provide a doorY which is capable of being constructed when desired, in a manner to provide a double surface sealing contact on all four edges thereof, when the door is in closed position, so that an improved seal is effected between the door and door frame. As an instant to this advantage, and as applied on doors for dump or hopper cars, the door or door frame may be provided with an overlapping ange so that each can be made as an integral piece and the other fitted tightly therein with a double lap at the joint.

A further object is to provide a door and door frame constructed as a complete unit which is capable of being made up independently of the hopper, car, or other device to which itis to be applied and thereafter mounted by mere attachf ment without relying upon parts of the hopper or car to constitute a part of its construction.

Although this invention is illustrated as ap- 60 plied to the hopper of a railway car, it is to be securely latch the door against the resistanceof the weight of the load supported by the door understood that the invention is applicable to dump cars of other types and to all other hoppers and like devices, the construction of which will permit of its application thereto.

Various other objects not specifically enumerated are contemplated for this invention as Will readily appear to one skilled in the art as the following description proceeds.

The disclosure of this specification will be more readily understood by referring to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments thereof as applied to railway hopper cars and in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view, partly in cross section, of the central portion of a railway hoppercar equipped with doors and latching mechanism constructed in accordance with this invention, and

Figure 2 is an elevational View, partly in cross section taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows, and

Figures 3, 4 and 5 are enlarged side elevational views with Figures 3 and 4 in cross section, illustrating the -latching mechanism, door and frame of this invention in various positions thereof,

and;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2 illustrating a modication of this invention, and;

Figures 7, 8 and 9 are views similar to Figures 3, 4 and 5, respectively, illustrating various positions of a hopper door constructed in accordance with the modification of Figure 6. By referring to the drawings it will be noted that the present invention is illustrated as applied to a hopper car of usual construction having side walls Ill and centrally disposed hoppers II. The hoppers are located between the usual center sill 50, and side sill 5I. As shown in Figure 1, eachv hopper comprises the usual slope sheets or shedding surfaces I2 and I3 respectively, and side walls I4. The closure or door of this invention is preferably mounted by means of a bracket I5 extending transversely across the under surface of the slope sheet I2, which bracket is preferably formed as an integral part of the door frame 2|, hereinafter described. This part of the frame, namely the bracket I5 is attached to any part of the under structure of the car which will provide adequate support therefor, but preferably, as here shown, to the center sill as at I5 and the side sill as at I6. Bracket I5 is provided with a plurality of extensions I6, having bearings II at their ends. A shaft I8 is rotatably mounted in said bearings and at points laterally of said bearings has Xedly or integrally attached thereto; a plurality of eccentrics I 9, the outer surfaces of which form hinge bearing surfaces for the door 20.

' The door preferably cast as an integral piece .faces of the eccentrics I9.

of metal but obviously may be of any suitable construction. Y

A metallic frame 2I is provided for cooperation with .the door, attached by any suitable means such as rivets 22 to the lip or edge of the hopper opening. It is preferable likewise to form the frame as an integral casting but it may be fabricated from forged, bar or sheet stock without departing from the spirit of this invention. In the form of the invention 'illustrated in Figures 2 to 5 inclusive, the frame is provided at each side and adjacent the bottom thereof with outwardly extending lugs 23, eachhavinlg 'an inner inclined surface 24 adapted for latchingcooperation with lug 25 carried at the lower side corners ofthe door. The upper bracket I5 which 'supports the door hinge constitutes an upper part of -the'frame joining the tops of the side portions thereof.

Lugs 25 likewise are provided. with .inclined surfaces V26 for engagement with the Ysurfaces 24 so that a bodily upward movement of 'the door will cause it to be moved in tight engagement with the frame.

At the upper edge of the door at-.spaced points in its width, hinge bearings 21 are provided for pivotal engagement on the outervcylindrical sur- Frame y2I is .preferably provided throughout itscentral location with a reinforcing and strengthening rib 28 and aprojecting lip or ange 29, the latter -of which extends along the top, bottom and sides rof vxthe frame. The door 20 is also provided with-a projecting flange 39 extending along the top, `bot- .tom and sides thereof and so located as to enclose or lie outside of the projecting flange `29 of the frame.

It will be noted that the hinge bearings 21 are made as relativelylarge cylindrical -loops yhav- .ing their inner diameters adjusted to provide good bearing fits on the eccentrics I9. With -this construction, when the shaft I8 and the integrally formed or attached eccentrics I9 are held-stationary, a fixed hinge is provided for the door by means of the bearings 21 swinging -on the external cylindrical surfaces of the eccentrics I9. However, when the shaft I8 is rotated to provide a corresponding movementof the eccentrics I9, the location of the axis of the door -hinge on .bearings 21 is bodily displaced so vthat a bodily movement is imparted to the vdoor itself with-- out, however, interfering with its pivotal movement on the bearing 21.

The flange 29 at the upper portion of thelframe -2I is arranged on an incline which Jis -so Aadjusted as to permit vthe upper flange 3l)` of the door, to move out of overlapping Arelationship therewith by the `first movement of the-eccentric I9. The rotationof the eccentric I9 first 'causes the upper portion ofthe door to move to the right Vas shown in the'gures vof the drawings, and thence bodily downwardly whereby the'upper lip is first removed from its 'overlapping "position and freed for bodily movement `with the e door;

It will thus vbe seen that 'the door '20 :i's n'capable of Ibeing 'moved manually or by v"anyfsuitable mechanical closing Idevice 'to a closed -position with respect to the frame which movement l"-in'volves merely the swinging "of the door on the bearing surfaces p-rovided on the e'xteriorof the eccentrics I9,'and that after vthe door lis in closed position that rotation of the-shaft AI8 (in a counter clockwise direction) will cause the door tobe bodily lifted to bring the lower edge thereof `in tight fitting engagement with the lower flange 29 of the frame, while at the same time, providing a relative movement between the inclined surfaces 24 and 26 of the lugs 23 and 25, respectively, to cause the door to wedge tightly, in -the direction of the closing swing, against the frame. As the customary construction for rail- "Way 'car Ah'oppers involves an inclined outside surposed so as to be at the top thereof when the n door is in latched position as shown in Figure 5. Above the hub ja slide guide bracket 35 is provided secured to the frame of the door or the car, andse'rving as a slide mounting for lockingpin Y36. The bracket 35 is preferably provided with a slot 31 inthe outer surface thereof -to slidably accommodate an extension 38 on the locking pin 36. This extension projects lateral-'1y toward the outside of the car in a position to be readily struck with a hammer or tool by the lcar attendant so as to quickly and readily remove it from locking position in the notch of the hub.

1n operation the attendant may disengage the locking pin in the manner above indicated and l cleariand vfree of the lugs 23 whereupon the door is free to 'swing outwardly to the open position shown in full lines in Figure 4. Any suitable means may be utilized to cause the door to move to open position but in installations of the type here illustrated, the door may be caused to move to the open discharging position by the weight of the door and the weightof the lading in the car.

In the modified form of this invention illustrated in Figures 6 to 9, inclusive, the parts, though generally similar, are modified to pro-vide a latchi-ng of the door by bodily movement thereof downwardly instead ofupwardly as in the form just described. In this form, the frame is constructed `to' provide a top, bottom, and side flange 40, which surrounds or encloses the edge of thedoor. At the bottom, the flange 49 is provided with one or more lug receiving openings 4I having inclined surfaces 43. The bottom edge of the vdoor is provided with one or more projecting-lugs 42, disposed to extend into the openings 4-I when the door is moved downwardly to latched position, and each lug 42 has an inclined surface for wedging cooperation with surfaces 43. Here the eccentrics are disposed with their high surfaces diainetrically opposite to those of the first form whereby the eccentrics are in the ylowermost position when the door is latched and are moved to the top position when the door is unlatched for free opening movement. It is believed that the operation of both modications -and their construction will be fully understood after inspection of the accompanying drawings, without further explanation, however it may be Vmentioned that in the second modification, the door lies entirely within the frame when in closed position wherefore the same positive closing action is provided by the double lap seal as well as between the outside inclined side edges.

As it is well understood that the hopper constructions as represented in Figures 2 and 6 are provided in duplicate, one on each side of the center sill, it therefore will be appreciated that the operating shaft I8 may extend across the entire width of the car so as to control the doors on both sides by operation from either side. However, in most installations, it will prove more advantageous to have each door operated by a separate shaft.

The present invention provides a new and improved mounting for doors of the type here referred to together with novel, efficient, and improved latching means for the door. It is to be understood that any type of door closing mechanism may be employed. In many uses, a desirable and practical operation will result by relying on gravity supplied by the weight of the door and the lading in the car, for opening the door while utilizing manual force for lifting of the`door for the closing movement.

It will be observed that the eccentrics employed for effecting the bodily movement of the doors are preferably -designed to approach a dead center position when the door is latched whereby the parts will tend to remain in l-atching position without liability of accidental displacement. Although the locking pin positively maintains the parts in latch position, by virtue of the fact that the cams are on dead center when the door is latched, the locking pin is spared undue strain and wear in use.

When the door is to be unlatched, the rotation of the shaft and the eccentrics operates first to.

move the upper end of the door out of closing contact with the frame or slope seat and thereafter, by continued movement of the cam, to move the door bodily so as to free its lower end from locking engagement with the holding lugs at the bottom of the frame, whereupon the door is then free to swing to open position.

Because of the fact that the eccentrics approach a dead center position when moved to their nal latched position, a relatively slight manual force applied for turning the shaft and eccentrics will develop a strong closing force on the door. Furthermore, the relatively great mechanical advantage produced by the eccentrics is increased by the wedging cooperation of the lugs at the bottom of the door and frame. A relatively slight movement of the door acts to develop a strong component of force in the closing direction. Accordingly, the parts can be made to fit tightly and snugly and yet be closed with great ease and furthermore small particles of lading or foreign material which may remain on the ledge of the frame will not prevent the doors from being properly closed against the strong and positive closing force developed by the eccentric and locking lug surfaces.

By providing a complete frame which also serves as a mounting for the door, the door and door frame assembly may be manufactured as a unit and applied to any suitable hopper o-r railway car. Furthermore, by virtue of the fact that the door fits either entirely within the frame or `the frame fits entirely within the door as the case might be, a double lapped contact is effected for sealing the joint where the door and door frame meet. In both forms it will be noticed that the because of the fact that the action of the eccentric causes the upper end of the door to move outwardly, whereby to free the overlapped flanges and thereafter to move the door bodily, either upwardly or downwardly, as the case may be, to disengage the latching lugs.

I claim:

1. A closure of the character described comprising a door frame and door, a hinge for said door at the top thereof, and cooperating locking lugs on the lower edges of said door and door frame, eccentric mountings for said door hinge adapted for rotation, said door and eccentric mountings being so constructed and arranged as to cause locking engagement of said lugs upon upward movement of said hinge and door.

2. A closure of the character described comprising a door frame and a door having a flange adapted to lie outside of said frame, a hinge for said door mounted for eccentric rotation so as to move said door upwardly and downwardly and lugs on said door and door frame adapted for lockingcooperation upon upward movement of said door.

3. A hopper car of the character described comprising a hopper and a closure therefore, said closure comprising a door frame and a door, said door having a flange adapted to lie outside of said frame, a hinge for said door mounted for eccentric rotation so as to move said door upwardly and downwardly, and lugs on said door and door frame adapted for locking cooperation upon upward movement of said door.

4. A hopper car of the character described comprising a hopper and a closure therefore, said closure comprising a door frame and a door, said door having a flange adapted to lie outside of said frame, a hinge for said door mounted for eccentric rotation so as to move said door upwardly and downwardly, and lugs on said door and door frame adapted for locking cooperation upon upward movement of said door, and means for locking said eccentrically mounted hinge against rotation.

5. A closure of the character described comprising a door frame, and a door, a bodily movable hinge for said door for imparting bodily movement to said door, said door and frame having an inclined side edge, locking lugs on said door and frame whereby upon bodily movement of said door, said inclined edges approach and tightly engage each other and said lugs are engaged to' hold said door in closed position.

6. A hopper car of the character described comprising a hopper and a closure therefore, said closure comprising in combination a door frame and a door, said door having a flange Vadapted to lie outside of said frame, a hinge for said door mounted for eccentric rotation so as to move said door upwardly and downwardly, and lugs on said door and door frame adapted for locking cooperation upon upward movement of said door, means for rotating said eccentrically mounted hinge and means for holding said hinge against accidental displacement. A

'7. A car door of the character described comprising a door and door frame, said door having an eccentric hinge connecting it to said door frame whereby said door is provided with a swinging opening and closing movement and a bodily movement upon displacement of its hinge axis, said door and door frame each having portions extending toward each other and adapted to overtop sealing lap affords no difliculty in operation' lap, said portions adjacent the hinge being diS- posed .atannngle and :the remaining portions being V`disposed normal to the plane of the .door opening, said hinge being adapted to permitfsaid door to swing so as 'tofcausesaid portions on the side opposite said hinge to overlap and assume a positionapproaching .closedposition and to thereafter move bodily to bring said overlapping por tions in close sealing contact, and simultaneously Withisa'id last movement, to -movelsaidfhinge side of `said door vbodily toward rsaid door frame to thereby establish tight sealing contact betweenall of said portions of 'said door and .door fframe.

f8. A car door .of the character :described comprising a door and .door frame, said doorhaving an eccentric :hinge connecting it to said door frame whereby said .door is provided with -a swinging :opening and lclosing movement and a bodily movement upon Vdisplacement of its hinge axis, said door and'door frame each having por tions extending .toward each other and adapted to overlap, said portions adjacent the hinge being disposed at an angle and the remaining portions being disposed normal to the plane yof the door opening, rsaid hinge being adapted to permit said door to swing so as to cause said portions ron the side Yopposite `'said hinge to overlap and assume a position approaching closed position and to thereafter move `bodily to ybring said overlapping iportions in close Vsealing contact, .and simul- -taneously with said Ylast movement, lto `move the hinge side of said door bodily toward said door frame to thereby establish tight Ysealing contact between all of said portions of said door anddoor frame, said door and door -frame fha-ving cooperating wedging faces adjacent the side thereof opposite said hinge which, during said kbodilymovement develop components of force causing 4movement of said door ltoward said door frame to thereby assist in the establishment of the sealing contact :between Yall of said portions of said `door and ldoor frame.

9. A car -of the character described having a hopper comprising downwardly extending hopper Walls, a door frame attached to the edge vof said hopperwalls, said frame having angularly -disposed portions :adapted .to ,form adouble seal contact with Ycorresponding ,portions of a door, Aa door and -an eccentrically mounted hinge 4.con-- necting said door and .door frame,.-said door hav ing yangularly disposed portion-s Vadapted .for sealing contact with the angularly .disposed portions of rsa-id frame, tthe angularly disposed portions of said frame .and door at the :edges thereof radjacent the hinge being disposed at ananglegreater 'than a right angle so that said door may .be brought to closed position with respect `to said door frame, Without `binding under .the .bodily displacement of said door vproduced by said eccentrically mounted hinge.

10. A car of the character .described having va hopper comprising downwardly extending .hopper walls, -a door .frame attached .to the .edge .of said hopper Walls, lsaid trame having angularly vdisposed portions adapted .to for-m a double seal .contact with corresponding portions Vof a door, .a door and an eccentrically mounted hinge connecting said door and door frame, vsaid `door having angularly disposed portions adapted for sealing vcontact with the angularly disposed portions of said frame, the ang-ularly disposed portions .of said .iframe and door at the edges thereof 'adjacent the `hinge bei-ng .disposed at an .angle greater than a right angle so `that said door may be :brought to closed position with respect to :said door frame, without'zbinding under the bodily displacement of :said 1'door produced :by said eccentrically mounted hinge, :said door and door frame alsohaving cooperating wedging faces for Vexerting a 'closing component of `force under 5 the influence of the movementof said-door caused by the eccentric ymounting of said hinge.

11. A cardoorzof :the character described comprising Ya :frame .having :inwardly ,disposed flanges adapted to abut the edge portions of the inside 10 face of said door and other flanges disposed atan angle to Lsaid first-named flanges adapted to-enclose the edge portions of :said door, said door having :an eccentrically mounted hinge `for attaching it to said door frame, a wedge faced lug l5 on said door frame adapted for cooperation with a corresponding vlugon the swinging edge of saiddoor, said angularly disposed ange on said v.door frame Aadjacent the hinge being disposed at an `angle greater Ythan 90 degrees with :respect tor-its 20 corresponding inwardly extending flange and said door having a correspondingly shaped `edge adjacent the hinge for sea-ling contact therewith.

i2. A car of the character described comprising a door and door frame, ysaid door having edge flanges extending towardsaid frame and .adapted to foverlie and enclose said frame, an Yeccentrically mounted hinge for connecting said door and door fra-me, the flange on said door adjacent vsaid hinge being disposed in :a plane ywhich is -substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the hinge side of said door when said door is approaching the maximum closed position under the action of said eccentric hinge.

13. A doorof the character :described comprising a door and door frame, `said door and door frame having cooperating surfaces Yto -form a double seal, Yand -an eccentrically mounted hinge for connecting ,said door and door frame, Ithe ycooperating surfaces of said door and door frame 40 adjacent lsaid hinge being disposed .in a plane which is substantially parallel to the movement of said door when approaching the maximum closed position under the closing influence of said eccentrically mounted hinge.

14. A closure of the character described vcomprising a door'frame `and a door, saiddoorirame and door having an 'inclined Aside edge and :coop. erating overlapping iianges, a hinge Aforsaid door and means `for bodily :displacing the axis of ,said hinge so as to g-ivebodily movement .to vsaid .door relative Yto -said vdoor frame in addition to .its swinging movement on the axisof said hingasaid means serving to move said door bodily when in closed yposition in a direction to :produce a closing and wedging action zbetween the overlapping flanges of :said in'clinedside edges,

15. A closure of the character described -comprising a door Yframe and a door, .each having an inclined side .edge, cooperating overlapping 60 iianges, and cooperating latching means with complementary wedging .-faces, .a hinge for said door and means for bodily `displacing the `axis of said hinge so -as to give .bodily .movement to said door relative to said fr.ame,.said.means serving to move said Adoor so that upon latching .said ,door a wedging engagement is provided vbetween `said overlapping flanges of :saidinclined side edges and simultaneously therewith, between .the complementary Wedging faces `.of said .latching means so as to impart a wedging .force to said door, pressing said door in tight engagement with said door frame.

WILLIAM \J,. .,HOSCEIT. 

